NBA draft: Washington Wizards select Texas guard Tre Johnson at No. 6 overall

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Tre Johnson is headed to our nation’s capital.

The Washington Wizards selected the one-and-done Texas guard with the No. 6 overall pick in the 2025 NBA draft Wednesday at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.

In his freshman season with the Longhorns, Johnson led the Southeastern Conference in scoring with 19.9 points per game and shot nearly 40% from 3-point range. Many draft evaluators and pundits consider Johnson the best pure shooter in this year’s draft.

He said that didn’t happen by accident.

“I channeled all my energy and put all my eggs in one basket with basketball,” he said. “All of your dreams are in the gym. If you stay consistent in there, great things can happen.”

Johnson is Texas’ highest draft pick since Mo Bamba was taken sixth overall by Orlando in 2018. LaMarcus Aldridge and Kevin Durant were No. 2 picks in back-to-back years, 2006 and 2007. Tristan Thompson was the No. 4 pick by the Cavaliers in 2011.

The Wizards had the second-worst record in the NBA last season at 18-64, so to say they are in a rebuilding phase is being kind. Johnson said he’s going to do his best to fit in and help improve the team.

“You have to keep pounding the stone and carrying the water,” he said. “You can’t get stuck in the losses.”

Johnson will join former Texas recruit AJ Johnson, who joined the Wizards via the Milwaukee Bucks after playing professionally in Australia from 2023-24 following his decommitment from Rodney Terry and the Longhorns.

As expected, the Mavericks made Duke’s Cooper Flagg the No. 1 overall pick. The Spurs picked Rutgers’ Dylan Harper, son of former NBA player Ron Harper, with the No. 2 pick. San Antonio used the No. 14 on Arizona wing Carter Bryant.

The Rockets had the No. 10 pick going into the draft, but used it in a trade with Phoenix for legendary Longhorns forward Kevin Durant. The Suns used the selection on Duke center Khaman Maluach.